Foundation gives grant to Family Promise

Grant to help support homeless families

NEWTON — Family Promise of Sussex County was recently awarded a grant for $15,000 from the John and Margaret Post Foundation to continue to provide services to homeless families and individuals in Sussex County.

The John and Margaret Post Foundation supports charitable organizations that benefit the quality of life for families and society in general, with a primary focus on organizations in northwest New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania.

For the past 16 years, Family Promise of Sussex County has been facilitating the provision of permanent affordable housing and long-term affordable transitional housing for Sussex County residents. Family Promise was also a recent recipient of $15,500 through the Social Services Block Grant funding competition. The competitive grant opportunity was open to all Sussex County agencies which provide services to county residents experiencing homelessness.

Family Promise provides a continuum of services to individuals and families facing a homeless situation.

These services include the Emergency Shelter Program, unites local congregations to provide shelter and meals; Supported Housing Program, financial assistance and in-home case management to former guests; Community Outreach, support, referrals, and advocacy to individuals from the community; Permanent Housing Support, in home support services to former guests now residing in low income housing apartments; and the Men’s Day Program, supportive services.

In Aug. 2013, Family Promise was awarded a Rapid ReHousing grant from Housing and Urban Development which will provide funds for rental assistance, supportive services, and administration for guests and former guests of the Tri-county Family Promise affiliates. Family Promise also operates a Transitional Housing Program in conjunction with a local landlord.

Through the Emergency Shelter Program, Family Promise provides basic needs of emergency shelter, meals, and support services to homeless families, single women and both married and unmarried couples in Sussex County. Family Promise is able to accommodate a maximum of 14 individuals every night.

Shelter guests who participate in the Family Promise shelter program thrive in the safe, nurturing environment. Family Promise also works with families to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, and advocates for affordable housing solutions. Family Promise works diligently each day to be innovative and expand services in response to the needs of the homeless population in Sussex County.

Family Promise of Sussex County is a division of Family Promise National, who founded the first Interfaith Hospitality Network in 1986. Today, Family Promise has over 182 IHN affiliates in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Through a national network of more than 150,000 volunteers from 5,500 congregations, these affiliates support more than 50,000 homeless families annually, 58 percent of them children.

For more information visit Family Promise of Sussex County at www.helpnjhomeless.org.